It’s Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe again as FIFA announces best men's player finalists

World Cup 2022 winner Lionel Messi, 2018 World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe, and 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema are the three players who have been shortlisted for the best men's player award. This award recognises the best performer in the men's game from the period of August 8, 2021, to December 18, 2022.

The winner of the award will be revealed at a ceremony in Paris on February 27, 2023. A total of 14 players were initially nominated for this award by a panel of experts. Out of these 14, three finalists were chosen by an international jury comprising the men's national team coaches, the men’s national team captains, football journalists, and the fans who voted on FIFA's official website.

Detail of how FIFA men's player finalists were shortlisted

According to a press release issued by FIFA's official website, the players were shortlisted based on the following criteria

1) From the 14-player shortlist, each voter made their first, second, and third choices for the prize.

2) Points were given to nominees depending on where they were placed (five points for first, three for second, and one for third).

3) Nominated national team captains could not vote for themselves.

4) Selections from the four voting groups – coaches, captains, journalists, and fans – each counted for 25 percent of the total vote, irrespective of the number of voters from each group.

5) The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award will be presented to the individual with the most points.

6) If finalists are tied on points, the award will be bestowed on the individual who has received the most first-choice selections.